A COMPAS! - Primal Pulse

From the early days in which Paco Peña decided to launch his now world famous company, he set out to bring onto the stage a true rendition of what the Art of Flamenco represents: a spontaneous collaboration between artists of different disciplines, i.e. musicians, dancers and singers who inspire one-another to reach as far as possible into their artistic endeavors so as to create a unique and unrepeatable experience every time; a performance that is new and surprising to themselves as much as it is to any audience present.

Flamenco is not written down, but passed on from generation to generation, so it continues to allow for new ideas to come into it.  It holds an intense appeal that is timeless and not easy to identify.  Both the tragic cry of the “seguiriya” in the lone voice of the flamenco singer and the explosion of happiness of the “bulería” rhythm find mysterious paths into people’s sensitivities all over the world; as do the sensuality and passion of the dance and the unique texture of the flamenco guitar sound.

Over the years, Paco Peña’s shows have dealt with various challenging concepts, from the deceivingly simple notion of highlighting the essential significance of the flamenco song, (not given due recognition for many previous years), as was the case with his Flamenco Puro show, to the ground-braking drama Musa Gitana which told the story of the legendary, turn-of-the 20th. Century artist from Córdoba, Julio Romero de Torres, with his complex observation of life and society and his personal, traumatic passions.

More recently, Paco Peña enjoyed the collaboration of the renowned theatre director Jude Kelly in what proved to be the spectacular show Voces y Ecos, which took the audience on a kind of journey through the history of flamenco and the most significant moments in its development.

The new presentation, A Compás ! wants to transmit to the audience the compelling nature of a range of flamenco rhythms, from the almost “tribal”, trance-inducing quality of the “alboreá’” to the razor - sharp complexity of the “bulería”.  At the same time, the show aims to isolate each artist at some moment, to throw (as it were) him or her onto the naked reality of a given rhythmic structure (or compás) and, there, having to deal with it in their own personal way, immersing themselves deeply into the feeling of the rhythm and contributing their own creative input, they must end up projecting an unstoppable pulse that every one can feel and identify with. Or, put in different words, they must try and get everybody “into the rhythm”, induce the feeling of “a compás” into the whole experience.

Flamenco rhythms are vital; the “compás” is like a primal pulse, like the rhythm of the earth... and everyone must get to feel it!

FLAMENCO REQUIEM - In praise of the earth

Paco Peña’s latest work, FLAMENCO REQUIEM, came about following his participation in various music festivals, over many years, performing his internationally acclaimed MISA FLAMENCA. Collaborating with various classical choirs in performing this work, he has often been urged by them and the festivals to compose again for flamenco guitar, voice and chorus.

He decided to write a Requiem, true to the orthodox tradition of such works, but giving it a different treatment at the same time; thus, composing a REQUIEM FOR THE EARTH, building its context with this in mind.

The Flamenco Requiem, therefore, contains several aspects which are new and unique: it combines the most pure flamenco with the beautiful instrument that is the classical voice, which will of course, be delivered in the flamenco form. At the same time it combines the original meaning of a requiem, with the disappearance of vital elements of the earth that are so necessary for the existence of human beings, and consequently, Judgement Day (also a central part of the requiem mass) will come to humanity for its unmeasured exploitation of the planet. This Requiem will also sing its praise to the Earth.

Of course all of this, gives this work a social commentary very relevant to the times we live in. However, Paco Peña wanted to add to this work an element of hope - that, not all is lost; with this idea he also uses a children's choir, which, although singing the serious message of the text, will contribute, with their innocence a little light of optimism towards the end of the piece.

Flamenco - VOCES y ECOS…